WOW! My anxiety level is at about a ten. The barn I've been at for 11 years isn't working for me anymore. It's a pristine, well-kept barn where the horses get excellent care. Access to great trails, which is primarily what I do. The problem? It's evolved into a teenager's jumping barn and that's where all the energy and focus goes. When I started there, I had many friends who were trailriders and we accomodated each other's schedules. Over time, that too has changed until I only have one person to trail with and only if I can make her 2:30 start time. My new western pleasure Paint needs more training and I need more lessons, but not in jumping. SOOOOO.....I found a new barn, or rather an old barn, taken over by new owners, that specializes in Paints. That barn is no where near as beautiful and consistently clean as the barn I'm at now, but the people are awesome, friendly and the trainer is superb. The horses are well cared for but the aisles are not always swept and there are no fancy individual lockers for each boarder. But people seem to be having fun and the horses are super happy and well behaved. At the barn I'm at now we all have to have leather halters and leads, blanket bags in the barn colors and it's always immaculate. I'm so afraid to tell my current owner that I'm leaving. She'll say that I'm going to a slum situation. I can just hear it. But I'm an adult and I know what I need. Still it's hard to leave a place you've been at for 11 years! But honestly, I haven't been really happy there for the past 3 years. So I know what I need to do. Bottom line - leaving barns, changing barns can be a difficult and tricky thing. As horse lovers we can only hope that the humans handle it in an adult and healthy manner. Can someone write a book on how to do this? MoonlightEm